[Hypertension 2000. Medical guidelines based on scientific evidence]

The benefit of antihypertensive therapy has been clearly established in mild to moderate as well as in severe hypertension. The benefit appears related to the correction of high blood pressure and the nature of the antihypertensive agents used to reach that goal is of secondary importance, excepted in some specific clinical situations. Additional benefits have clearly been established for the use of betablockers in myocardial infarction, ACE inhibitors in diabetes mainly with proteinuria and proteinuric nephropathies. The availability of different pharmacological classes allows the clinician to personalize the treatment to the individual characteristics of the hypertensive patient.